Learn Dutch: Ik ben erg moe, want ik ben al lang wakker. - I am very tired, because I have been awake for a long time.

Want (because) is a coordinating conjunction, which means it simply connects two normal sentences without mixing up the word order. After want, you just use the regular sentence structure: the subject (ik) followed immediately by the verb (ben).

Why does the Dutch sentence say ik ben (I am) but the English translation says "I have been"?

In Dutch, if a situation started in the past and is still happening right now, you use the present tense along with a word like al (already). So, ik ben al lang wakker literally translates to "I am already long awake," which we naturally express in English as "I have been awake for a long time."

Does al lang literally mean "already long"?

Yes! Al means "already" and lang means "long". In Dutch, combining these two words is the standard way to express that something has been going on "for a long time".

Can erg also mean "terrible" or "bad"?

It can, but not in this sentence. When erg is placed directly in front of an adjective like moe (tired), it means "very" or "really".